Short-course chemotherapy in neuro-tuberculosis - Brief review of clinical trials undertaken at the Tuberculosis Research Centre, Madras

Tuberculosis of the nervous system can present as tuberculous meningitis, tuberculoma of brain, Potts paraplegia, tuberculosis of spine and rarely as arachnoiditis and vasculitis. Tuberculosis is conventionally treated for 12 to 18 months to ensure adequate cure, stabilise quiescence and prevent relapses. With the introduction of rifampicin and pyrazinamide it became feasible to shorten the duration of chemotherapy to 6 to 9 months. Many controlled clinical trials conducted all over the world have confirmed the success of this approach in pulmonary tuberculosis by evolving 100% effective SCC regimens 1-5. In a few studies especially tuberculous lymphadenitis, tuberculous abdomen and pericarditis SCC has also been used and found to be as effective as conventional regimens6,7. However, only recently has SCC been tried for neurotuberculosis. This presentation briefly highlights some of the chemotherapy trials conducted at the Tuberculosis Research Centre in some areas of CNS tuberculosis8-10. What is SCC? SCC refers to chemotherapeutic regimens containing powerful bactericidal drugs like INH, Rifampicin and Pyrazinamide, by the use of which the duration of treatment of TB is reduced from the conventional 12 to 18 months to 6 to 9 months

A retrospective study of 'non-compliant' patients in controlled clinical trials of short course chemotherapy

In a total of 2,332 pulmonary short-course chemotherapy studies conducted during 1975-1985, there were 60 ‘noncompliant’ patients who had received less than 75% of the prescribed treatment. A retrospective study was undertaken to find out the reasons for default in these patients since the Tuberculosis Research Centre has very stringent criteria of selection of patients for their, studies, an adequate system. of motivation of the patients and well organised infrastructure for retrieval of the defaulters. Unwillingness for treatment was stated as the reason for default by 20 patients and adverse reactions to the drugs by 16 patients. Other major reasons given were pressure of work (14 patients), frequent outstation visits (13) and migration (12)

Increased yield of smear positive pulmonary TB cases by screening patients with >2 weeks cough, compared to >3 weeks and adequacy of 2 sputum smear examinations for diagnosis

Background RNTCP recommends examining three sputum smears for AFB from Chest Symptomatics (CSs) with cough of >3 weeks for diagnosis of Pulmonary TB (PTB). A previous multi-centric study from Tuberculosis Research centre (TRC) has shown that the yield of sputum positive cases can be increased if duration of cough for screening was reduced to >2 weeks. Other studies have shown that two smear examinations are adequate for diagnosis of smear positive PTB . To validate the above findings, a cross sectional multi-centric study was repeated in different settings in five geographical areas in India. Methods Three primary and secondary level health facilities with high out-patient attendance were selected from two Tuberculosis Units (TU) in each of the 15 selected districts to screen about 10,000 new adult outpatients from each state. For patients who did not volunteer history of cough, symptoms were elicited using a structured simple questionnaire. All the CSs were referred for sputum examination. Results A total of 96,787 out-patients were registered. Among them 69,209 (72%) were new adult out-patients. Using >2 weeks of cough instead of > 3 weeks as the criterion for screening, there was an overall increase of 58% in CS and 23% increase in the detection of smear-positive cases. Among 211 patients, 210 were positive at least by one smear from the initial two specimens. Increase in the work-load if 2 smears were done for patients with cough of >2 weeks cough were 2 specimens (i.e.13 to 15) per day for an adult OPD of 150. Conclusion The yield of sputum positive PTB cases can be improved by screening patients with >2 weeks cough and two specimens are adequate for diagnosis

A comparison of writing samples of first graders in three different social settings with assigned and unassigned topics

The purpose of this study was to compare the writing produced by first-grade students in three different social settings with assigned and unassigned topics. The three different social interaction patterns were: (a) writing while interacting with an adult, (b) writing while interacting with peers, and (c) writing by themselves.The sample consisted of 14 first graders in two classrooms in a university laboratory school in a midwestern school district. During a 6-week period, as the children composed, audio-taping and written observations were taken. At the end of the study, interviews with the children were conducted.The 84 written products were rated using the Smith-Ingersoll Holistic Rating Scale and analyzed for number of words, vocabulary, spelling, number of T-units, and number of words per T-unit. Multivariate analysis of variance with repeated measures was used to test three null hypotheses at the .05 level of significance. The three null hypotheses were not rejected, leading to the following conclusions:1. First graders in this study achieved equally well in writing when they wrote with a teacher or with peers or individually.2. The first graders achieved equally well in writing when they wrote on an assigned or unassigned topic.3. There was no statistically significant interaction between the three social contexts and topic choice among the first graders in this study.Observational data suggested that writing seems to have such unique relationships to individuals that responses in different social settings vary at different times and situations. The multiplicity of factors which impinged on the performance of the child made it difficult to isolate any single factor out of the total learning-writing environment.Recommendations for additional research include replication and expansion of this research with children at various grade levels. In addition, recommendations are made for future research to examine a variety of other factors which might influence writing performance and frequency of writing in the classroom.Thesis (D. Ed.)Department of Elementary Educatio

Prothallus Morphology in Some Tectarioid Ferns

Volume: 66Start Page: 102End Page: 10

Impact of ICT on Library and Information Science: Major Shifts and Practices in CUSAT Central Library

Information is knowledge, facts or data. For the purpose of enabling the users to assimilate information, it should be repacked. Knowledge becomes information when it is externalized i.e. put in to the process of communication. The effectiveness of communication technology depends how well it provides its clients with information rapidly, economically and authentically. A large number of ICT enabled services including OPAC; e-resources etc. are available in the university library. Studies have been done to find the impact of ICT on different sections of CUSAT library by observing the activities of different sections; discussions with colleagues and visitors; and analyzing the entries in the library records. The results of the studies are presented here in the form of a paper.Cochin University Of Science And Technology6th International CALIBER-2008, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, February 28-29 & March1, 200

Generation of nanoparticles from technical powder

Not AvailableThe technical powder of a local isolate of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) var. kurstaki namely DOR Bt-1 was subjected to high pressure homogenisation (HPH) to obtain nanoparticles (NPs) ranging 32–1,106 nm as determined through dynamic light scattering. NPs of Bt were also characterised for shape and size through scanning electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy that helped in visualising the smallest nanoparticles, i.e., less than even 50 nm. The larger particles comprised mainly Bt spores with a length and width of 1,139 and 813 nm respectively. HPH showed little effect on the spore viability. NPs had a zeta potential above +30 and were stable, resulted in higher mortality of Helicoverpa armigera larvae at a lower dose. Alkali solubilisation of the NPs resulted in higher values of protein and endotoxin quantified through Lowry’s method and ELISA respectively. This is indicative of an increased solubility of the toxin in the midgut alkaline fluid of the insect leading to higher mortality coupled with quicker kill. Thus Bt as NPs has brighter prospects for insect pest management with increased speed of kill at lower doses.ICA

Studies on the Potential of Coir Reinforced Structures

55-62Geotextiles made of natural fibres are increasingly finding a place in erosion control, but not for soil reinforcement application, in spite of the fact that strong fibres like coir which have a very high lignin content can be effectively made use of provided they are given suitable treatment. This paper deals with potentialities of coir products like coir ropes, coir felt and grids for improving weak subsoil. The effectiveness of coir needled felt on clay beds were examined using CBR type penetration tests on a kaolinite clay bed at fast and slow rates of strain with a view to comparing them with sand blankets used for accelerating consolidation. The needled felt was also strengthened by nylon netting and coir grids. Limited cyclic wetting and drying tests performed on these products showed that the strength is not significantly reduced by these tests. It is concluded that needled felt is a good seating layer to economise on sand blankets for clay formation on which embankments can be constructed at a fast rate as there is little possibility of undrained failure. Light bituseal and cement-PVA coating help to improve both the resistance and durability of the coir composites